Have you ever watched a movie, read a book, or binged a TV show and thought; Wow, this feels familiar but it’s also completely fresh and original? After a weekend of watching Wicked and Gladiator 2, I remembered a cultural practice I learned in college called Spolia.

Originally a term used in architecture to describe reusing pieces of old structures to build something new, Spolia has evolved into a powerful storytelling technique. It’s about taking fragments of existing works and reimagining them into something unique and meaningful.

From Wicked to The Mandalorian, Wednesday to House of The Dragon, this practice is behind some of the most creative and impactful stories of our time. Let’s dive into how Spolia can inspire not just Hollywood hits but also the way you approach your own creative projects.

Needless to say, as someone that is consistently experimenting creating content across several mediums, I had to ask my friend Nico Zapata (my favorite architect) his take on the this cultural practice. Here is what he had to say…

What is Spolia?

The term spolia refers to materials, artifacts, or architectural elements that have been repurposed or reused in a new context, often from older structures or artworks. The word originates from the Latin term spolium (plural spolia), meaning "spoils" or "booty," originally used to describe war trophies. Over time, it has come to describe the practice of reusing materials for practical, symbolic, or aesthetic purposes.

Key Contexts for Spolia:

1. Architecture:

   • In ancient and medieval construction, spolia often refers to columns, stones, or reliefs taken from older buildings to construct new ones. For example:

     • The Arch of Constantine in Rome includes elements repurposed from earlier imperial monuments.

     • Byzantine and medieval churches often incorporated columns or sculptures from Roman temples.

2. Art and Decoration:

   • Sculptural fragments, mosaics, or other decorative pieces are reused in new works to evoke history or prestige. This practice was common in Renaissance and Baroque periods.

3. Symbolism:

   • Spolia can carry ideological or symbolic weight, representing a continuity of power, a homage to the past, or domination over a previous culture.

4. Modern Context:

   • In contemporary art and design, spolia can inspire works that explore themes of recycling, sustainability, or historical reflection.

So I wanted to share a deeper dive on how this can be appilied to storytelling and show you examples of this concept in practice. When you are done, you will see that the practice is way more common that you may have believed walking in.

The Magic of Reimagining Familiar Worlds

Think about The Mandalorian. It’s set in the Star Wars universe, but it doesn’t retell Luke Skywalker’s story or rehash the original trilogy. Instead, it zooms in on a lone bounty hunter with a compelling new mission. By blending elements of the classic space opera with Westerns and samurai films, it gives us something fresh while still paying homage to its roots.

The same goes for Wednesday. It draws from The Addams Family, but instead of focusing on the kooky family dynamics, it reimagines Wednesday Addams as a teen detective solving supernatural mysteries. It’s a brilliant example of taking a beloved character and exploring an entirely new angle.

Even House of The Dragon uses this approach. As a prequel to Game of Thrones, it dives into the history of the Targaryen family. The show borrows the epic scope and moral ambiguity that made Game of Thrones a hit, but it builds on those themes with new characters and conflicts.

These works succeed because they don’t just replicate what came before—they remix, expand, and deepen it.

What Can We Learn from Spolia?

If you’re a creator; whether it’s content, art, or storytelling, there’s a lot you can learn from how these shows and films use Spolia. Here’s how to apply it to your own work:

1. Find the Untold Stories

   • Just like Wicked asked, “What if the Wicked Witch wasn’t wicked?” or Wednesday explored what happens when a gothic icon goes to high school, you can look for the hidden angles in the stories you love. What’s a perspective no one has explored yet? Maybe it’s a side character’s journey, the “before” or “after” of a well-known narrative, or even the story’s villain reimagined.

2. Expand the Universe

   • The Mandalorian takes us to corners of the Star Wars universe we’ve never seen. Similarly, House of the Dragon digs into the rich lore of Westeros. Look at the worlds or ideas that inspire you—what stories could live within them that no one has told yet?

3. Blend Genres or Styles

   • One of the reasons West Side Story stands out is its ability to blend Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet with modern themes of immigration, identity, and cultural tension. When creating your own work, think about how you can merge genres or styles to create something fresh.

4. Add a Modern Twist

   • Wednesday updates The Addams Family’s gothic charm for a Gen Z audience. What updates can you bring to the stories that inspire you? How can you make them relevant for today’s world?

Why Spolia Works

At its core, Spolia works because it taps into the familiar while offering something unexpected. When Game of Thrones first aired, it borrowed the medieval fantasy aesthetic but turned it on its head with morally complex characters and unpredictable storytelling. West Side Story reimagined Shakespeare with dance battles and a powerful message about prejudice.

These projects succeed because they respect their source material but don’t feel bound by it. They use the foundation as a springboard to launch into something new.

How to Use Spolia in Your Own Work

You don’t have to be a filmmaker or showrunner to embrace Spolia. If you’re writing a blog post, crafting a podcast episode, or creating a social media campaign, you can still draw inspiration from the world around you. Here’s how:

• Identify what inspires you. Is there a book, movie, or even a piece of music that speaks to you? Think about what resonates and why.

• Ask, “What’s missing?” What part of the story hasn’t been told yet? What’s a fresh angle no one’s explored?

• Respect the source. Inspiration isn’t copying. It’s about honoring what came before while putting your own spin on it.

Let me show you a more relatable example of Spolia in action, on multiple levels.

My friend Antonio Milian, known on social as @DeffNotAnt (who highlights Black history) highlights a recent Kendrick Lamar video where his lyrics / imagery in his ongoing lyrical battle assault Drake references a scene in Menace II Society, 1993 American film directed by the Hughes Brothers that highlights black life in Los Angeles in the ‘90s. The reason this is so meta to me, is because Antonio… is literally using Spolia to highlight Kendricks use of Spolia.

My words will not do it justice, watch the video below to get the full effect of this phenomenon. Give him a follow, I promise you… you will not regret it.

The Courage to Create

Whether you’re creating a TikTok series, writing a novel, or launching a podcast, remember that you don’t have to start from scratch. Just like Wicked, The Mandalorian, or House of the Dragon, you can build something new and meaningful by using the fragments of what inspired you.

Recognize the beauty in what already exists and transforming it into something that’s uniquely yours. So, what are you waiting for? Find your inspiration, pick up the pieces, and start building your masterpiece.

Because, like Wicked taught us, the most powerful stories come from the places we least expect.

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